Week 2 Big Ten Football Preview
Big Ten football game finally returned concluding week and it did non disappoint. From Wisconsin'south Graham Mertz throwing five touchdown passes against Illinois to Indiana's thrilling overtime victory versus and so No. 12 Penn Land, there was plenty of excitement this past weekend in the Big Ten. The Week ii slate offers further opportunity for shut games and compelling stories.
Let's take a await at the matchups:
Minnesota (0-1) @ Maryland (0-one)
When/Where: Friday October 30th, 7:30 PM @ Maryland Stadium, College Park, MD
Lines*: Minnesota -20, O/U 65
It's homecoming weekend at the Academy of Maryland and each of these teams are coming off of tough losses. Minnesota was defeated at abode past No. 13 Michigan, 49-24 while Maryland was trounced on the road at Northwestern, 43-iii.
Minnesota returned quarterback Tanner Morgan and wide receiver Rashod Bateman for the 2022 flavour, 2 of the team'southward well-nigh important offensive pieces in 2019. While Bateman went for 101 yards against Michigan, Morgan but threw for 197 yards and threw an interception. He will have an opportunity to improve on that functioning against a Maryland defense that surrendered 212 passing yards to Northwestern and 537 total yards. Expect for Minnesota to move the brawl well and score a lot of points.
After a very solid opening drive resulting in three points, Maryland's criminal offence struggled the remainder of the way, scoring no points and turning the ball over four times. Starting quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa looked off for most of the game, throwing for simply 94 yards and 3 interceptions. Despite the struggles, head coach Mike Locksley said he is still committed to Tagovailoa as the starter. Minnesota's defense allowed 481 yards of law-breaking and 49 points to Michigan, and looked helpless against the run. Maryland will need to get the run game going to take some pressure off of Tagovailoa and wearisome the game downwards.
Prediction: Maryland is young and much more than talented than they showed in Evanston, but Minnesota's roster is too deep and besides experienced to suffer dorsum to back losses. 38-24 Minnesota.
Purdue (1-0) @ Illinois (0-ane)
When/Where: Saturday, October 31st, 12:00 PM @ Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
Lines: Purdue -seven, O/U 59
Purdue is coming off of a huge week i victory against Iowa, winning 24-xx while Illinois ran into a buzzsaw in Wisconsin, falling 45-7.
Purdue was outgained by Iowa last week, but took less penalties and put together a stellar fourth quarter drive to take the pb with ii minutes to play. In the absence of preseason Big Ten honoree, wide receiver Rondale Moore, wide receiver Darrian Bell stepped up with 3 touchdown catches confronting a stingy Iowa defense. Quarterback Aidan O'Connell could get a huge heave with the possible return of Moore. If he isn't able to suit upwardly, Purdue still faces an Illinois defense that was shredded by Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz for 248 yards and five touchdowns.
Illinois struggled to get anything going on law-breaking versus Wisconsin, but faces a less intimidating defensive unit of measurement in Purdue. Purdue gave up the third about points in the Big X last year and while they came out victorious against Iowa, they gave upwards 460 yards of total criminal offense. The Boilermakers were too gashed for 195 rushing yards. If Illinois tin can score early, they tin can put some pressure on the Purdue offense and take some pressure off of their own.
Prediction: Purdue will be riding high later on winning their outset season-opener since 2022 and may overlook Illinois. I also recollect their victory confronting Iowa will expect less impressive by the cease of the season. I like the upset here. 31-28 Illinois.
Michigan State (0-ane) @ #13 Michigan (i-0)
When/Where: Saturday, Oct 31st, 12:00 PM @ Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Lines: Michigan -24.v, O/U 52
Michigan Land and new head coach, Mel Tucker, are coming off of a 38-27 habitation loss confronting Rutgers, who had not won a Big Ten game since 2017. Michigan is coming off of a big road win at Minnesota, 49-24.
It would not have been surprising to see Michigan State have a down year in 2022 subsequently the sudden retirement of longtime head coach, Mark Dantonio. However losing to Rutgers at home in the season opener is a straw of a worse season than many MSU fans probably expected. Starting quarterback, Rocky Lombardi, threw two interceptions and the team could just muster 50 rushing yards. The team too lost 5 fumbles and volition be facing a Michigan defense that is a regular peak-10 finisher in yardage. If the Spartans cannot close the turnover gap or spring on Michigan early, they will be in for a long day.
Quarterback Joe Milton got the nod for Michigan in Week 1 later previous starter Shea Patterson graduated last flavour. Milton was impressive, but was not asked to do too much every bit Michigan ran all over Minnesota for 256 yards and 5 touchdowns. No role player got more than x carries, which speaks to the Wolverines' backfield depth. If Rutgers had no problem scoring on the Spartans, neither should Michigan.
Prediction: This game will not surprise many as Michigan wins large. 41-ten Michigan
Northwestern (one-0) @ Iowa (0-1)
When/Where: Sabbatum, October 31st, 3:xxx PM @ Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Lines: Iowa -2.5, O/U 46.v
Northwestern is coming off of a 43-3 habitation win over Maryland while Iowa enters week 2 post-obit a heartbreaking loss at Purdue.
Transfer quarterback Peyton Ramsey was a huge boost in Week 1 to Northwestern'southward criminal offence that finished last in the Big Ten in passing a year ago. While Maryland's defense is doubtable, it was a great sign for the Wildcats and something to build off of as the season continues. They also had no trouble getting the running game going, as the team combined for 325 yards and four touchdowns. However, Iowa's defense is more experienced and is coming off a season in which they allowed the 5th-fewest points in the nation. The Hawkeyes have lost multiple primal starters, only still pose an intimidating threat to the Northwestern offense.
Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras replaced the at present-graduated Nate Stanley and hopes to be a spark to an Iowa offense that lacks explosiveness. The Hawkeyes are mostly a run-first team, just confronting Purdue, they were forced to throw the brawl more than, with limited success. Both of the Hawks' touchdowns came on the basis and they could not put together a solid drive exterior of the second quarter. Fumbles also toll them big, including ane with six minutes to play in the game. The Northwestern defense stymied Maryland'south offense for the better part of hr and is one of the most underrated units in the Large 10, led by senior linebacker Paddy Fisher–a Walter Army camp preseason All-American.
Prediction: Northwestern looked ascendant in week one but will probably return to earth against an Iowa team drastic to avoid an 0-2 start. I like the habitation team in a classic, low-scoring, smashmouth Big 10 West game. 21-16 Iowa.
#17 Indiana (one-0) @ Rutgers (1-0)
When/Where: Saturday, October 31st, 3:xxx PM @ SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
Lines: Indiana -10, O/U 52.5
Both of these teams are coming off of monumental wins for the country for their corresponding programs. Indiana beat Penn State for only the second time in plan history in a dramatic and controversial overtime finish. Rutgers won their first Large Ten game in three years by defeating Michigan State 38-27 in East Lansing.
Greg Schiano was rehired at Rutgers this offseason to try and revive a plan that has been the laughingstock of the Big X for the majority of their tenure. A season opening win has washed a lot for the psyche of the Rutgers players and fanbase, but a lot of work still needs to be done. Indiana may but be one of the most underrated teams in the nation, coming off of an 8-5 season and a massive flavor-opening win of their ain. The Hoosiers are returning 16 starters this season, including 9 on defense. The Hoosiers defense poses a claiming for an inexperienced Rutgers defense.
Indiana lost starting quarterback Peyton Ramsey to Northwestern this offseason and it was very noticeable in their first game. The criminal offense was inefficient for most of the game and was doubled upwards past Penn State in time of possession and yardage. Withal, a big second quarter combined with a clutch drive in the fourth quarter allowed the Hoosiers to force overtime and eventually win the game past one. Rutgers' defence force looks much different than last year, and should be more competitive than last yr. However, they are a less daunting unit than Penn State.
Prediction: Greg Schiano has the Rutgers program moving in the correct direction, but there is notwithstanding enough of work to be washed. Meanwhile, Indiana is on the rise and hoping for one of the all-time seasons in programme history. 41-17 Indiana
#3 Ohio State (i-0) @ #18 Penn Country (0-1)
When/Where: Saturday, October 31st, 7:thirty PM @ Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
Lines: Ohio State -12, O/U 63.five
Hither'southward the game of the week in the Big Ten. Ohio State comes in off a 52-17 home win against Nebraska while Penn Land returns home after a crushing 36-35 defeat at Indiana.
Ohio State entered the season equally the overwhelming favorite to win the Big 10 and did nothing to alter that outlook in week i. Justin Fields is almost a guarantee to be a top-10 draft choice at the quarterback position while he is surrounded by some of the best weapons in the nation with wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Fields was an almost perfect 20-21 against Nebraska, but the run game really struggled to go going after JK Dobbins was drafted this offseason. Penn State's top defender, linebackers Micah Parsons, opted out of the season merely this is still a very solid unit. However, it will be tough for anyone to slow downwards Justin Fields and the Buckeye offense.
Quarterback Sean Clifford returns for some other year as the Penn State starter, only is without running back Journey Brown. Clifford led the Nittany Lions in rushing a calendar week ago, which is an impressive feat, but not one that jitney James Franklin would like to meet repeated. Ohio State might struggle to contain possible beginning-circular option tight stop Pat Friermuth, only Clifford has been prone to mistakes in the past. The Buckeye defense lost many key starters, including defensive cease Chase Young and cornerback Jeff Okudah. However, Ryan Day has had no problem replacing talent in his tenure and then far. If their defense can force some mistakes by Penn State, information technology could turn into a long day for the Lions' offense.
Prediction: Having this game at Beaver Stadium is huge for Penn State, but they will miss the atmosphere of a packed business firm. These teams have played each other shut for the past few years, but Ohio State has the clear talent advantage this year. 38-21 Ohio State
Note: Nebraska @ Wisconsin has been cancelled due to COVID-19
*All lines from Odds Shark
Source: http://wmucsports.net/week-2-big-ten-football-preview/
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